Rail-welding apparatus



y 6, 1930'. H. G. SHLSBURY 1,757,148

RAIL WELDING APPARATUS Filed. Aug. 6, 1927 FIE awueutoz Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUGH e. srlnsnuav; or CBANFORD, New JERSEY, 'A's'sreivoa, BY 'MESNE' ASSIG1\T-' MENTS,TTO FRANCIS EARLE, or MoN'rcLAI'n, NEW :nauasrnr- RAIL- ELD NG arrnmrrus Applicationlfildhugust e, 1927. ser aliv 211,213..

This invention relates to rail welding a paratus and more particularly to clampsfor positioning molds such as are commonly used in the aluminothermic welding process.

In applying a mold to a rail, it is desirable to use some clamping means for applying pressure to the two sides of the mold and holding the same in firm engagement withithe rails which are to be welded. It is also'desirable to apply clamps to the two rails and to so attach said clamps that longitudinal pressure .may be applied to the two rails for forcing the ends thereof firmly together. This invention provides means associated with the rail clamps for applying and rigidly securing the mold and eliminates the neces sity for a large number of extra parts and additional clamping means therefor.

One method jof practicing this invention comprises applying compression elements between a portion of the rail clamp and the mold and adjusting these elements so as to force the mold firmly against the rail. By utiliz ing the clamp itself as a portion 'of the mold retaining means, the total numberof parts is. reduced and the operation thereof accord- ,ingly simplified.

The invention also. consists 1n certam' new and original features of construction and and claimed.

. Although the novel features which arebelieved to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed appended hereto, the inventionitself, asto its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mold clamping device'constructed in accordance with this invention. I

Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section showing the mold and clamping means therefor. Like reference characters denote like parts in'the severalfigures of thedrawings. I

In the following description and. in the claims parts will be identified by specific out in the claims.

names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art willpermit.

Referring to the drawings more in detail infwhich one means for practicing this invention is set forth by wayof illustration only, a mold comprising sections 10, 10 of the usual and well known type is shown as applied to a rail 12 by suitablejclamping means to be hereinafter described. 7

A rail clamp which has been shown for purposes of illustration, comprises bars-15 pivoted to yokes 16 on opposit'e sides of the rail.

Yoke 16 may be U-shaped and provided with longitudinally extending projections 17 through which pivot pins 18 are insert-ed. Bars 15 pivoted on said pins 18 are provided at one end with serrations for the purpose of securing afirm grip against the sideof the Said bars are usually applied to the rail web and are so positionedwith respect rail.

to the yoke that said serrationscome in contact with two sides of said web. The serrafolded back when pressure is released, and shouldextendparallel to the rail when in -tionsshould be located entirely off centre with respect to plns 18 to permit the bars 15 to be gripping position so that all parts of the serg rations may make contact with the rail. combinations ofparts hereinafter set forth The'endsfof bars v15 opposite .to said serrations are formed bifurcated to provide means for receiving suitable pressure. rods 20, which are placed through the bifurcationsof the two .bars 15 on the same side of a rail. Pressure may be. applied thereto by means of nuts 21 which are threaded on the ends of said rod an'd pin 22 may be passed through the bifurcated ends for preventing rod 20 from becoming disengaged therefrom.

' v The above described clamp may be applied to-a rail by folding said bars 15 back against the yoke 16 whereby the serratedends are of tightening said nuts therefor serves to no pant'of-the present invention, any: type r Said bar 33 may clamps and having a part extending parallel to the rail being suitable as will be hereinafter set forth;

ceive molten produced by the aluminothermic process, may be located around the propsed-joint-and securely clamped thereabout by means pf rods 30 which are provi'dedat-their'endswith reverserthreads. One 1 11511 6 saidrodfiQ-i curedv in a .Txcoupling 31, which is inserted over rods 20 and seourelyheld,theneby. The other end ,of said'TrodBOQis.engaged byscoupling 32 havinga thread of an opposite pitch tothat 0f'00upli11g 31 anclzpnovided withv a bearing surface for V contacting; with bar; 33. be extended acrossthe face of mold section 10 and when pressnne v is applied thereto, will servetohold said section rmly against the! rail. 10d 13.!)- maybe adjusted by any suitable 'meanssuch :as .abar 3a which may be inserted"through .a hole drilled in saidflod 'andropprated therein in afmanner similar to the welhlniownvise handle.

When the above described parts, havebeen p a in pe a iv position, rod 13Qmay be rotated as'by handle 3ij and will .serve. to firmly force bar 331 against the side of mold 11. This pressure will be Iesistedfbyclamp b wh h a above set forthmav e securely fastened asby pins22 passing'throngh the ends ofbars l5. a

1 order to ove he meldsit isjonly nec- .essaryto slightly loosen barj33 a s1by-turning rod inthe reverse direction, Bar then be. removedandfthe clamping means comprising rod 30 and 'cOuplingQBZ be ted od 2 0 an i operetivepe ition, whereby ample space will he obtained for removing the mold sections from around the rail. 7 a r By;means of the above described apparath number of Par s empl y din amp: n a pl a mo the et nth aluminothermic. welding process is material- 1y: reduced since a portion itself'is utilized'forap lying pressure-t0 and maintainingthe mold firmly against the-side oftherail. The device is simple to assemble v sinceri't" is" only necessary to. app y the rail p s ib n r t 1 vari u partsof'the molditselfto compress the same by rotationof rod scinthe proper direction The-device may als'o'be readily removed from the;mi l"since itfis only necessary tqloosen the partsia' suficient amount to allow,v them to beswung free-from'the moldi;

- 'fiince-alumjnothermic-weids;are.commonly Mold. Sections 10; which: are: designed to. remetalgsuchas thatscommonly oat-t I ilclam-p made in the field, reduction of parts involves a substantial saving in the cost of transportation and operation and reduces the liability of certain parts becoming lost in transit. Furthermore, the weight of the complete applianceis not appreciably greaterthan that of the rail clamps and thelniolda,

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, a practical commercial embodiment ,of:;the-. invention. isdisclosed! but as-suchiillustration is primarily for purposes of disclosure, it will be understood; that the structure may be modified in variousrespects without departure from the broad spirit'and scope of the invention as hereinaiter defined and claimed,

W ha-t s c imed is. t I

1. A devicetfor applyinga mold to-a rail i ealumi o he i ld g processwhie comprises a pair of rail clamps having, members extending, longitudinally 7 0157 said rails and; spaced t erefirom a pair of mold .se tions adapted to be positioned, about said rails and holding means therefonco-operatg with said em e ompris ng CQ lPIQ sion. members having oppositely, inclined threads.

2- A devicesfor.applyingamold to .a rail in, theraluminothermic welding process which mprise a pairof rail clamps av ng-111cm bers exte dmg: o gitudinally 0t said. i ail and spac ther f m, a pai of m ld-sections adapted to be; positioned] about saidrail's and, o ingmeans he efo omprising a rod having hreads; 'fi ppositer tsh at th two end ereof andifcourl ngsi epe at ng herewi h, n of aid e lp ingsbeina a hi che to ai ongi udinally xt n ng mp m ber and/t othe f s id f @011- 7 being adapted toiepply pressure, to

plmgs idrmold}, 1 l a 3. A devicefor'applying a 'moldto a rail in thealuminothermic weldingprocess which comprises a pairof raili'clampshaving members. extending longitudinally of said rails and spaced therefrom, a pair of 'moldsections adapted tobe positioned about saidrailsand holding meansftherefor' comprising pressure rods, having threads ofoppo'site-pit'ch atth'e two ends thereof, a Tcouplingfoi'receiving one end of said'rod; said coupling beingipositioned' on, said longitudinally extending clamp-member and me'ans associated with the other end of saidj= ro d for applying- -pressure to said mold? 4. A devicefor applyinga mold tola rail in the aluminothermic weldingprocess which comprises a pa r of rail .clamps having-members extending longitudinally of said'rails and spaced therefrom, a pair of moldlsections adapted to be positionedabout saidrail's and holding means therefor comprising pressure rods having threads ,of oppositepitch at the two ends thereof,.a 'Tcouplinggfei' receiving one e f s dirod;s d"mnPhngb- 'ngapmeans comprising a rod slidable transversely holding means therefor comprising a rod having its two ends oppositely threaded, means for securing said rod to said longitudinally extending clamp member and to 'saidmold and means for turning said rod for applying pressure to said mold,

6. A device for applying a mold to a rail in the aluminothermio welding process which comprises a pair of rail clamps having members extending longitudinally of said rails and spaced therefrom, a pair of mold sections adapted to be positioned about said rails and holding means therefor comprising a rod having its two ends oppositely threaded means for securing'said rod to said longitudinally extending. clamp member and to said mold and means for turning said rod for applying pressure to said mold, said of said threaded member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

- HUGH G. SPILSBURY. 

